The Traveller in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

I had a lovely time in Amsterdam and despite it being quite a short 3-night trip, I feel refreshed from having spent a good and relaxing time in a city I love. The Dutch are generally very laid-back, friendly people and it’s easy to slip into a relaxed pace. If you haven’t been, then I’d highly recommend you go; it’s like nowhere else. I’ve been thinking about why I like it so much so thought I’d do an ‘overall’ post, and include places to seek out and things to watch out for – especially the bikes!

Where to stay? I’ve spent a lot of time in Amsterdam but rarely stayed in a hotel. My very first visit was with my school friend Nina when we were about 19 and we stayed in a youth hostel – that turned out to be in the red light district! But the Dutch are easy about these things and it’s not such a big thing, and it wouldn’t worry me even now. Then about 20 years ago my ex husband was working in Amsterdam for a couple of years. He came back to London most weekends but half terms and holidays I’d take our kids out, driving from London, and we’d all be together in an apartment in Oudekerk aan de Amstel, a lovely village a few miles out of Amsterdam on the river Amstel. I got used to driving into central Amsterdam but often we cycled in along the Amstel. Two years ago I travelled to the city with my daughter and we stayed in a hotel she knew (she goes to the city for work reasons sometimes), the ‘t Hotel. This is just lovely and on a gorgeous canal in Jordaan. I guess this would be my first choice, but it’s quite expensive when travelling alone and the last two years I’ve booked a ‘deal’ with British Airways when booking my flight. Last year’s hotel wasn’t that great, but I was happy with my NH Hotel this year. It’s a chain but a good one. The only problem for me was that I’d booked into the branch in the Jordaan on Singel (canal) but was moved as it closed in January for refurbishment. The one in the Museum Quarter was friendly and I was given a nice room but it was a bit too far away from the Jordaan for me. Remember when booking, apart from choosing your area, that the canal house hotels rarely have lifts and the stairs are often narrow and steep. Ask if you’re in doubt about how many flights of stairs you can manage. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).